The floor after installation of the Stone FX decorative concrete flat overlay system. To achieve the multicolored, veining effects that make these floors look so realistic, installers applied accent stains in gray and black over a bright white base stain.
Another view of the completed floor overlay.
The concrete floor before overlay installation. Although the goal was to transform the existing floor and make it look like marble, the homeowners botched the job and ended up with a floor that didn’t take the stain evenly and looked blotchy.
Applying a decorative concrete overlay is not a particularly easy do-it-yourself venture, especially if the installer has little or no experience and doesn’t use the proper tools and equipment. These homeowners learned the hard way and instead of having professionals install an overlay to rejuvenate their worn and cracked concrete floor, they attempted to do the job themselves. Unfortunately, the results were a disaster.
“Originally, the homeowners hired us to do the floor but changed their minds and decided to do it themselves to save money,” says Terri Osbrink of Stone FX International, a contractor that specializes in interior and exterior concrete overlays.
Although the goal was to transform the existing floor and make it look like high-end marble, the homeowners ended up with a floor that didn’t take the stain evenly and looked blotchy, and the veins they applied by hand looked fake and did little to hide the existing cracks, holes, and pitting in the slab. They hated the floor so much, they rehired Stone FX to remove what they had done and completely redo the floor.
“Many of our clients are focused right now on getting a high-end look at an affordable price. They can achieve that with our decorative concrete flat overlay system, which can be professionally installed for as little as $3.95 per square foot,” says Osbrink. “Not only does this budget-friendly alternative offer all the beauty of real marble, it results in an easy-to-maintain floor that will last a lifetime when properly sealed.”
HOW IT’S INSTALLED
One of the key benefits of the Stone FX system is that it can be installed over any existing concrete slab, even if it has cracks, small holes, and other slab imperfections. Because the overlay is thick enough to cover up any damage in the subfloor, less work is involved in prepping the surface. For this 1,500-square-foot project, the transformation from unsightly concrete to a decorative marble floor took about five and a half days to complete.
The process begins by diamond grinding and power scrubbing the floor to remove any existing coatings and sealer. That’s followed by application of a polymer adhesive to ensure strong bonding of the overlay to the existing concrete. The next step is the installation of a cement-based fill coat to cap off any defects in the floor. The decorative topcoat follows and can be given the look of natural stone, granite or marble, depending on what the client desires.
To achieve the multicolored, veining effects that make these floors look so natural, the installer sprays the desired colors of water-based stain onto the overlay in random patterns. Stone FX offers over 300 stain colors to choose from, including several metallic options. For this project, the homeowners choose a base stain in Extra White followed by accent stains in Earl Gray and Tricor Black. A high-gloss urethane sealer completes the look.
DIYERS BEWARE
As this project illustrates, many homeowners are better off leaving concrete overlay installation to the pros, even if it costs more.
“We have not seen any DIY floor installations that have increased the value of a home. The problem is that most homeowners have no experience in installing an overlay. We’ve been doing it for 17 years and we are still learning new techniques and improving our craft,” says Osbrink.
Homeowners also have to be willing to invest in the right equipment and materials if they want to achieve a successful outcome. That includes a planetary grinder equipped with the right diamond tooling to remove old coatings and profile the surface, a good floor scrubber to remove any residue, and a sprayer designed to apply concrete stain evenly.
“We take pride in our quality installation services and the additional benefits we offer, like a 5-year warranty on the work,” says Osbrink. “However, we encourage clients to try the DIY approach in a small area, such as a closet, if they want to. If it doesn’t work out, they can give us a call.”
RELATED:
Concrete Overlay Cost
How to Make Concrete Floors Look Like Marble
Contractor
Stone FX
Humble, TX
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